New Joiner at MBB Firm: Stuck on the Bench
I recently joined MBB full-time after interning last year. Since coming back, I've been hit with a situation I wasn't prepared for – I'm still not staffed on any projects, and I'm starting to feel completely bamboozled.
During the recruitment/internship process, there was no mention of a "self-staffing" model or the possibility that I could spend an extended period on the bench. I've been told that things will be slow for a while, but I'm eager to start getting reps in and building my toolkit. Unfortunately, it seems like my staffer isn’t going to be much help in getting me onto a project.
I'm feeling pretty frustrated because I joined to learn and grow, but instead, I feel stuck with no work to do and no real way to make connections since I’m not working with anyone. On top of that, everyone seems too busy to have a chat with a new hire.
Has anyone been in a similar situation? How did you navigate it? Any advice on how to get staffed quicker or how to make the most of this downtime? I’d really appreciate any insights you all can offer.
Thanks in advance!
Based on previous WSO threads, here are some insights and advice for navigating your situation as a new joiner at an MBB firm who is currently on the bench:
Understanding the Staffing Model
Steps to Get Staffed Quicker
Proactive Networking:
Highlight Your Strengths:
Seek Guidance:
Making the Most of Downtime
Dealing with Frustration
Additional Tips
By taking these proactive steps, you can navigate the bench period more effectively and position yourself for future opportunities. Good luck!
Sources: Received offers from all three MBB firms and don't know what to do, Navigating the Unemployment Terrain, Advice for incoming IB/M&A analysts in the midst of a likely recession?, Strategy& Ex Employee - Q&A, Q&A: spent 2 years as a BA/A/AC at MBB
I'm going to make the assumption that you're at M, as that's the only firm that really does "self-staffing."
If you've been sitting idle for a month, that's completely fine and not super out of the ordinary in this environment. If it's been over 2 months, you need to start reaching out to people, getting on people's calendars for coffee chats, and start advocating for yourself.
At a minimum, you can ask to be a set of hands on some client dev work, which can help you establish yourself with some senior colleagues and get some time on the board.
I’d be surprised if you are at M and didn’t know about self staffing. You’ve either been misled or have been sitting under a rock.
Either way, being unstaffed for more than a few weeks is concerning, particularly if there aren’t a few Partners who are pounding the table for you (unlikely if you are early tenured).
In order to be able to do the cool things you want to do, or work with the best people, or work abroad etc you need strong sponsorship. Partners (ideally Senior Partners) need to pound the table for you. This will only happen if they are happy to stake their reputation on your work and think you are good.
You have a limited number of chances to make an impression. Ideally these are in the context of studies/ projects. Sometimes it might be in the context of beach work. Rarely, it is while doing Firm building/ other activities.
Quite simply, you probably haven’t made much of an impression yet when you need to be knocking everything you do out of the park.
Practically, you should be asking anyone and everyone for work and organising coffee chats every week.
If you can’t find staffing soon, you’ll begin the downward spiral of doom, when people think you just be bad because you have a staffing gap and so won’t staff you. Your peers who are staffed will continue to get opportunities and up or out can come quickly.
Like others said, you're probs at M and surprised you never heard about the self-staffing model at M. However, I would encourage you to network heavily and try to get on a project. I think the first~14 weeks or so of a new joiner is invested time aka you don't cost money to staff but that protection doesn't last forever, so you should do as much as you can to get somebody to like/ staff you. Also, make sure to learn as much as you can about Excel/ any other needed skills while you're still on the bench. Times are rough in consulting and at M the reputation from your first project will really shape your future trajectory (more people staff if you do well or concerns/ CTL = counseled to leave/fired due to no "staffing pull" if you don't do well)
Contrary to what people are saying, it's not just McKinsey that does the self staffing. BCG does it too, actually.
Regardless... I'd be in close contact with your staffer and career advisor, and make sure they know you are doing everything you can to get staffed. Document every coffee chat you have, every proposal assignment you do. It's tough out there. Keep reaching out to partners/managers for coffee chats. Go to office events. When you are young, this stuff matters. At your review, "Joe was unstaffed but he is doing everything he can: doing training modules, coffee chats, working on proposals, and getting good feedback from those he works with on his short term assignments" a much better narrative than "Joe was unstaffed, not sure what he's really done the past 2 months."
Typically the staffer will place new hires on a project, so you should be staffed soon. But you still need to be in close contact with the staffing team and make sure they know your name.
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